Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Livin’ La Vida Loca on piano
By Eddie Murphy
- C# minor
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- i–bVII–i–bVII loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Livin’ La Vida Loca in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C#m – B – C#m – B
How it goes
Livin’ La Vida Loca sits in C# minor: C# is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C#m is C#, E and G#; B is B, D# and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C#miBVIIC#miBVII- C#mC# · E · G#
- BB · D# · F#
- 2
Left hand: Yo-yo bounce
How it goes
A long high root, a dip down, and back up like a yo-yo. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 629 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pop stabs
How it goes
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: A – B – C#m
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABC#m- AA · C# · E
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Questions about Livin’ La Vida Loca
What chords are in Livin’ La Vida Loca?
The loop is C#m – B – C#m – B (i – bVII – i – bVII) in C# minor, and the song ends on A – B – C#m.
What key is Livin’ La Vida Loca in?
C# minor, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Livin’ La Vida Loca?
Yo-yo bounce: broken chord 8-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Livin’ La Vida Loca easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Livin’ La Vida Loca?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.